10 Best Small Cheap Cars to Buy in 2024 (2024)

Consistently one of the least expensive new cars on sale, the Sandero is not as small and cramped as you might expect, making it even better value for money. You get what you need (air conditioning, an eight-inch touchscreen and digital radio) and little else. Sure, it's lacking in some of the creature comforts you get in more expensive cars, but it is way more comfortable and refined than the previous model. The Euro NCAP safety rating is poor though.

The dinky i10 is actually a little bit pricey for one so small (it’s a size down on the Sandero, for instance) but the smallest Hyundai makes up for that with good quality, a long five-year warranty, and the prospect of excellent reliability in the long term. You get a touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard, along with lots of safety kit.

You’ll struggle to find a cheaper new electric car than the MG 4. Not only is it great value, the MG is fun to drive and looks great too. Even the basic SE spec comes with autonomous emergency braking, a 10.25-inch colour touchscreen, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. In fact, we’re such big fans of the MG 4 that we named it our 2023 Car of the Year.

For a similar price to the Fiesta, the cheapest Ibiza gets you an 80hp 1.0-litre engine (5hp more than the equivalent Ford!) while the SE trim gets you an 8.25-inch touchscreen and 15-inch alloy wheels. It’s basically a Volkwagen Polo with a £1,000 discount, making it even more of a value prospect.

Want a little rugged SUV aesthetic from your small city car? The Toyota Aygo X might just be the perfect car for you. It gets chunky body cladding and the alloy wheels go up to 18 inches, a great combination with its sharp styling. We'd recommend the slick manual gearbox over the noisy automatic, and there are some scratchy plastics in the cabin, but overall this is a fun, affordable city car.

Regularly competing with the Sandero for cheapest new car on the market, the Picanto is a tempting option. It’s no hair-shirt, though - OK, so you won’t get a touchscreen nor alloy wheels on the basic entry model, but you do get a zippy 1.0-litre engine, Bluetooth connection, and front electric windows. And, of course, Kia’s brilliant seven-year warranty.

Don’t fancy spending north of £20,000 on a Mini? Then get a Swift instead. For a good chunk less, the Swift offers Mini-like styling and handling that’s not too far south of what a Cooper can offer. OK, so it’s not very sophisticated, and the cabin is full of cheap, black plastic, but you do get 16-inch alloys, LED headlights, air conditioning, and radar cruise control. And more pennies left in the piggy bank.

The Corsa’s always been a big seller, and the current model is a firm favourite with buyers. It shares a chassis and engines with the Peugeot 208, so it’s quite sophisticated to drive. Entry level models get a 7.0-inch touchscreen, 16-inch alloy wheels, climate control, automatic emergency braking and speed-sign recognition, so it’s a bit of a bargain too. Spend more and you can get an electric version.

Small and stylish, the Clio cuts quite a visual dash for less than £20,000, and you get decent standard equipment too - a 7.0-inch touchscreen with built-in sat-nav, automatic high-beam headlights, automatic air conditioning, and keyless ignition. It uses the same 90hp three-cylinder turbo engine as the Dacia Sandero, but you do get classier surroundings…

Skoda’s always been strong on value, and while the new Fabia isn’t much cheaper than rivals, it is a bigger car than most others here, with a massive 380-litre boot and a cabin design that’s far nicer and classier than most. Standard equipment includes 15-inch alloys, a 6.5-inch touchscreen, and LED headlights.